Ron Paul Has To Look Kind of Presidential Now

Of all the GOP presidential candidates, Ron Paul has been the one who comes off as least concerned with keeping up appearances. He says things that don’t appeal to a conservative base. His suits often look a little too big. Still, he’s a contender in Iowa. Which could mean nothing since, you’ll recall, Rick Perry, Herman Cain, and as recently as a few weeks ago, Newt Gingrich were the candidates to beat.

Anyway, so now Ron Paul is to be taken seriously by voters and, especially, the other candidates. As such, the campaign wants its volunteers to be taken seriously. So college student volunteers, you have your marching orders: keep your drunken fairy/viking tattoos under wraps, shave your ironic moustaches and face-engulfing mutton chops, and don’t go sexin’ it up at the posh Iowa Motel 6 where you’ll be staying while you’re campaigning non-stop for your man Ron Paul. Who is technically a libertarian and theoretically believes in keeping out of people’s personal affairs. But this is politics young people.

Paul was also feeling the love from two other famous youthful supporters — American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson and fellow pop songstress Michelle Branch (jogging your memory) who tweeted their support. This led to backlash against them because of recent revelations about racist and otherwise offensive newsletters published in the 1980s and 1990s with his name attached.

“I do not support racism. I support gay rights, straight rights, women’s rights, men’s rights, white/black/purple/orange rights,” Clarkson later wrote on Facebook. Eek.

Ron Paul says he doesn’t support that either, so they have something in common besides being from Texas. Paul himself has been answering questions non-stop about these newsletters, which he is both disavowing and dismissing as trumped up by opponents.